JCB 250T vs Gehl RT185

JCB

JCB 250T

$64,000

4.4★ (45)

Gehl

$64,000

4.2★ (105)

Quick take: The JCB 250T has a higher rated operating capacity (2,429 vs 1,850 lbs); the JCB 250T has more engine power (74 vs 70 hp).

✓It's the only machine in the hot mid-size CTL class (Bobcat T64, Cat 259, Deere 331 territory) with a side-entry door - operators never climb over the attachment or under a raised boom.
✓The single-arm PowerBoom gives a genuine 270-degree view from the seat, a visibility edge no twin-arm competitor in this size class can match.
✓The 74 hp Kohler diesel needs no DPF and no DEF, so there are no regen cycles or emissions fluid to manage.
✓At 9,870 lbs it tows behind a well-equipped three-quarter-ton pickup without a CDL, unlike many machines with this much capacity.
✓The 2,429 lb rated capacity slots neatly between JCB's own 215T and 270T, right where most rental and landscape buyers shop.
✓The cab is roughly 46% larger than competitive mid-size machines, with a touchscreen display and adjustable MyChoice joystick response.
✓Wide 15.7-inch tracks keep ground pressure around 5 psi, so it treads lighter on turf than its capacity suggests.
✓An 18.5 GPM standard circuit with a 30.4 GPM high-flow option covers augers through cold planers without buying the biggest frame.

✗It's a brand-new 2026 model, so there's no long-term reliability record and early-production quirks are still being shaken out.
✗JCB's compact-line dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Cat's in much of the US, which can slow parts and warranty support.
✗The single-boom design still meets resistance from traditionalist buyers, which historically softens JCB resale values.
✗The left-side door is the only way in, so parking tight against an obstacle on that side locks you out.
✗The 74 hp rating trails 100+ hp rivals for sustained high-flow mulching work despite the healthy hydraulics.
✗At 9,870 lbs it's heavier than several twin-arm machines with comparable rated capacity.
✗Electro-hydraulic controls and integrated electronics need dealer-level diagnostic tools when faults appear.
✗The Kohler engine and proprietary boom parts are unfamiliar to many independent mechanics, stretching off-warranty repairs.

✓The 127.5-inch hinge pin height is exceptional for a radial-lift machine - it clears high-sided dump trucks that force competitors into pricier vertical-lift models.
✓Pilot-operated joystick controls with proportional response are the heart of the Pilot Series, and operators praise how smooth and predictable the hydraulics feel compared to older Gehl T-bar machines.
✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning sets itself at startup, extending track life and eliminating one of the most-neglected maintenance chores on any CTL.
✓The 69.9 hp Yanmar diesel stays under the 75 hp threshold, so there's no DEF tank to fill and Tier 4 compliance stays simple for owner-operators.
✓An 1,850 lb rated capacity at a conservative 35% of tipping load means real-world stability - the same machine rated the Bobcat way would advertise over 2,600 lbs.
✓The optional 34 GPM high-flow package runs cold planers, stump grinders, and snow blowers that choke on standard-flow competitors.
✓Self-leveling lift action comes standard and keeps pallet forks level automatically through the lift, with a selectable disable for bucket work.
✓New RT185s consistently price thousands below equivalently-specced Bobcat T66 and Cat 255 machines, and the 2-year/2,000-hour warranty sweetens the math.

✗Gehl's dealer footprint is thin outside the Midwest and South, and owners report parts backorders that would be same-day pickups for Bobcat or Cat.
✗Resale values lag the major brands, so the purchase discount partially evaporates when it's time to trade.
✗The radial lift path pulls the load back toward the machine at full height, making precise placement over truck sides trickier than a vertical-lift design.
✗The rigid-mounted undercarriage transmits rough ground straight to the operator, a noticeable step down from ASV or Cat's suspended systems.
✗Top speed of 8.9 mph trails the 10-11 mph two-speed competitors, which adds up on big pads and long ground moves.
✗At 9,160 lbs plus trailer, it demands a serious tow rig - a three-quarter-ton truck is marginal and a one-ton is realistic.
✗Cab, A/C, and high-flow are all extra-cost options, and a loaded machine narrows the value gap that makes Gehl attractive on paper.
✗The same loader is sold as the Manitou 1850 RT, and buyers worry Gehl-badged machines could see reduced brand support as Manitou Group consolidates its lineup.